Hutt Valley Cricket

Hutt News, Volume 20, Issue 20, 16 October 1946, Page 3

Hutt Valley Cricket

j , * ) OLD AND NEW PDAYEKS ] PROSPECTS FOR THE SEASON ) S Further evidence of the growth ] of cricket in the Hutt Valley is 1 revealed in the strength ' of clubs > which are aspirants for senior status, j The limit of six teams for the liigh- > e?t grade will have the dual purpose J of reaching a reasonable standard of | cricket, and allowing two full rounds |of matches. Although it appears | on paper that the Hutt Club may > prove a tough proposition the gathering strength of others clubs, liable ! to gain senior ranks, is most encour--1 aging. This applies particularly j to the clubs operating in .the newlyj built-up areas, and each week the I new arrivals in the district. comi prise cricketers among other sports- | men. j Of the eight teams tl\at comprised | the senior division of last season | Tren chain Army and Air Force retire automatically. Their affiliation during I the war years served the useful purpose of providing their personnel with healthy relaxation. The remaining six teams, Trafalgar Park (championship winners), Petone United (runners-up), Celtic, Eastbourne, the youthful Stop Out eleven, Taita, are all strengthened and will provide quite a “headache” to the grading committee. With the advent of the Petone and Hutt Clubs the difficult job of awarding senior status to six of these clubs will take place next Tuesday. Trafalgar Park retains most of the last season’s players, and with the addition of J. Cheevers, who played for Hutt prior to the war, Churchill, a wicket-keeper from Wellington, W. Jarvie, from Petone Central, and the return to cricket of Frank Thorn, the side will be fairly strong. Bert Ross, “Manu” Jones, C. Steven, Wolf Cramner, A. Williams, P. Davis, J. Coulston (who is showing improved form as the result of the indoor coaching), L. Harvey, and H. Schmidt are all awaiting Ihe opening. R. i Tovey and B. Thorburn will be absentees. Much Stronger Team Taita, which showed improved form towards the close of last season, will be a much stronger team this year. Phil Monk, H. Owen, S. Cutts (ex-Midland), “Bunny” Spencer, A. Weir, B. Haycock, Blair Dickie, and Tommy Dunn (Stop Out), and Rex Greer will have Reg Collins, late of Trentham Army, McKeown, of Institute, Phil Rough, of College Old Boys, and other undiscovered local residents to call upon. Eastbourne, last season’s erratic side, have newcomers in Adams, a promising colt from Wanganui, Fiizmaurice, of Army, Eric Foley, and possibly Ray. Wright, late of Hutt, to assist Teddy Roberts, T. Tyndall, Les and Noel Foley, J. Souness, McHugh, George Craig (the newlyelected secretary of the Wellington Association), J.- Porteous, G. Collins, and C. Langridge. Hutt, with Rae Buchan, Ced. Muir, C. Gray, R. Gwilliam, G. Roberts, T. Meale, Jack Wall, J. Dickinson, “Red” Delamore, Jack O’Reilly, and the abundance of colts awaiting promotion, will prove a difficult side. Chapman will be a notable absentee, and Jim Kemp is now living out of the district, although he may be seen with the Upper Hutt side. / Celtic proved a little on the weak side last season, and will find difficulty in remaining in the higher grade, although Dave Benton will be in evidence to reinforce the Brice Brothers, J. Dennis, B. Gibbs, Tur-n- ---! bull, and McConway. Some Promising Material Petone have lost their outstanding colt, Cliff Jones, to the Wellington Association, and “Stew” McVicar will also join the same club. Rob- | ertson, the Otago rep., has joined the club, and G. Brice, late of Celtic, will be seen out with this side. J. Asplet, R. Driscoll, the Pointon Brothers, J. Dougan, J. Ingham, and some promising material from the lower grades will be in action. The other Petone senior side of last season, l’etone United, will be strengthened by the returp of J. Capstick from Auckland, J. McCarthy from Petone, and some of their lower grade talent. T. Sherlock, Gordon Futter, Jack May, R. G. (“Ike”) Holland, Les Ward, Jim - Halligan, Alt'. Harding, Fitzwater, ! although only for the early part of | the season, K. rJ Point.on and A. Hil- | lock. | Even if Stop Out maintain the fielding form of last season their prospects appear bright, and with the return of such promising colts as J. Sharpe, Alan Cook, and Peter Dunn from overseas to assist the Dunn brothers, George Drylie, C. Withers, Terry Minihan, and G. and J. Johnston their side should be ! a. well-balanced one, J. Mason, late | of Petone, and Alf Simpson, who formerly played in Auckland, will also be playing. ' Mercantile League At a meeting of the Wellington Mercantile Cricket League it was decided to invite the Hutt Valley , Association to play the annual match 1 on December 26th and 2 7th.